The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-17
WHY HE SOLD THE q. s. o.
The Recent Railroad Accident Near Tihia
Said To Have Caused the Act,

The Recent Railroad Accident Near Tifio
Said To Have Caused the Act.
Washington Special
hear very interesting story about the rea-
sons which actuated Robert Garrett in his at
tempted sale OF the Baltimore q Ohio road A
gentleman who is very him says it Is all
owing to the recent accident near Tifin. Before
that occurred Mr. Garrett had no more idea OF
selling the interests that were beoueathed to the
family of which he is the head, than he had Of
disposing of of his own children But for
that accident he felt In certain measure per-
sonal responsibility. Mr.. Clemens was formerly
the general superintendent OF the road. q man
who was very nopular among tho employees OF
the system. and who conducted it upon some
plan that was In vogue under the elder Garrett
Robert Garrett appointed man named Dun
ham general manager Of the Baltimore q Ohio
system, official his father had been able to do
without. mir. Durham, when he came in, COM
inenced to tear up the organization that had ex-
listed, and took no notice of the protests and
monstrances or Clemens. The latter appealed
to Mr. Garrett. who decided in favor of Durham,
and Clemens rendered his resignation, accepting
position under John A. King, manager of the
Erie road, who had formerly been vice presi-
dent of the Baltimore & Ohio. Then Durham
was free to make all the changes and introduce
all the innovations that he pleased, but they
were so distasteful to the old employees that
many of them resigned and followed Clemens
where he had gone. general Generalization
over the entire system was the result and the
accident at Tif6n in which thirty or more lives
were lost, was attributed to the confusion that
had been growing worse and worse on the road
from the time Durham took the management.
Mr. Garrett charged with the loss of these
lives. Those who understood the situation. said
it could not have occurred but for the changes
in - regulations the decentralization of the
traffic force and the indifference of the men
who had succeeded the old and tried servants
who had followed Clemens away.
So. when proprietor came to Mr. Garrett to
purchase the telegraph system of the company
he was willing to unload his entire responsibility
upon the shoulders of some one who was moro
willing TO bear it. The Tiffin accident cost him
many sleepless nights. There were great
many newspaper publications that wounded him.
The Baltimore & Ohio railroad had always
prded itself upon the safety of its passengers.
There had not been a serious accident before
since 1862, but the holocaust at Tiffiu was the
elimination of series in which many lives were
lost Under the elder Garrett, so the papers
said such things would not have occurred A
young man with $40. 600, 600 thought it was not
worth the cost of mental anxiety and care to be
the head of great corporation, and he decided,
| if he could unload it without sacrificing any OF
the interests involved, it was right for him to
| do so. He fixed his own price, and would have
| been able to complete the transaction had it not
| been for the vanity of the man who held the
| contract He shot off his mouth" prema-
| tureiy,